Haunted St. Augustine and St. Johns County by Elizabeth Randall

I picked out several weird and odd books on St. Augustine that I wanted to read.  Luckily, I found many on the legendary town that were well done.

"Haunted St. Augustine and St. Johns County" by Elizabeth Randall is easily one of my favorite "Haunted" type of books to come around in some time.

For one thing, this book came out in 2013, so it is a pretty up to date volume.  Also, Randall takes a very fact based stand in her ghost book.  Sure, she interviews people who have worked at the sites, but there is a lot of researched history in this book.  She is very clear when she gives a legend, and she is also clear about the generous amount of specific names and dates she uses.  Additionally, unlike many similar books, she includes a large bibliography section in the back!

Elizabeth Randall covers one tragic event in St. Augustine in a more professional manor than most.  The death of two people in 1944 that is covered by probably every ghost tour in town is mentioned.  The author does cover some of the ghost sightings, but she focusses more on the known history of the location.  She discusses a thorough history of the site, given to her by an employee.  She also gives information from the coroner's report. 

Randall does let the reader know what she thinks about some of the sites trying to snag the many tourist dollars with their ghostly legends.  She is a bit critical of one location cashing in on a $25 per person ghost hunt. 

Elizabeth's way of thinking could easily help any traveler prioritize the stops they want to make while in town (while also thinking about their budget).  The above mentioned attraction can be admired from the outside.  You can walk by, take some nice photos and be happy.  You will have an extra $25 to spend at one of the exciting restaurants Ms. Randall mentions (one with an amazing and strange history, a resident ghost, AND that doesn't charge an admission fee).

I thought it was pretty interesting that the book has a chapter on the still unsolved murder covered extensively in the out of print book, "Bloody Sunset in St. Augustine."  It was good to see a recent mention of this case.

I read this book pretty quickly, as it is 120 pages.... BUT I felt like it was packed with very usable information.  You get a whole lot more for your money with this one.  I give it my highest recommendation.